Man has been fascinated by flight since he first gazed up into the heavens. Many tried before them, but brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright got the first aircraft legitimately off the ground in 1903. Timing is crucial to aviation, for navigation, but fumbling for a pocket watch was inconvenient. Flying pioneer Albert Santos-Dumont sought the help of his friend Louis Cartier, who made the Cartier Santos wristwatch just for the purpose of flying and the aviation watch was born.

Over the course of the past century, the pilot’s watch evolved in function and design to assist the pilot in his journey. The Fortis 597.20.71.M Flieger Chronograph represents a cool example of the modern flight watch that’s as sleekly designed as it is a timepiece ready to take on other tasks. It even won a design award.

The Fortis Flieger 597.20.71.M features a black dial with a configuration that’s easy on the eyes, a definite requirement to access information quickly whether up in the air or on the ground. The chronograph indicators of hours, running seconds and minutes are found on the left side of the dial at 12, 9 and 6 o’clock respectively.

As visibility is key in a pilot’s watch, lume coats the pencil-point skeletonized hands and white Arabic numerals, capped off by the traditional pilot’s watch signature of an illuminated triangle at 12 o’clock for nighttime orientation. The 597.20.71.M Flieger Chronograph also includes a day and date indicator at 3 o’clock with another illuminated triangle to direct the eye there for fast reference, above which sits the Fortis crown logo. To decrease glare, 597.20.71.M Flieger Chronograph’s crystal is coated in an anti-reflective material.

In a 40 mm stainless steel case that feels just right on the wrist, the 597.20.71.M Flieger Chronograph conveniently places the chronograph pushers to stop, start and reset the function in the traditional 2 and 4 o’clock position with a large knurled crown embossed with the Fortis logo in between. To match the stainless case the watch comes on a 3-link stainless steel bracelet with a deployant clasp.

A robust automatic movement powers the Fortis 597.20.71.M Flieger Chronograph, which resists water to 330 feet. As a pilot inspired watch that can handle tool and social situations, the 597.20.71.M Flieger Chronograph does both jobs with panache.